Where New York City Architects Go for Straight Talk
A contractor who speaks drawings and dollars, navigates approvals, and delivers dependable execution across occupied and high-compliance sites.
Tell us your availability so we can do our best to meet your needs.
- NYC board/permit savvy
- Dedicated Project Manager (PM)
- Clean documentation
25+ Years in NYC
Fully Licensed & Insured
It wasn’t just that they showed up and got it done—it was how they worked. Everything supported my vision, and I didn’t have to chase anyone down.
Architecture Meets Execution.
- Constructability reviews: edge conditions, substrate prep, material transitions, and sequencing.
- Budgeting & value engineering from day one: we align assemblies, products, and sequences with the design’s intended use and performance, while mapping ripple effects (trim intersections, door clearances, dust control, labor impacts).
- The result: concept-true details, reliable schedules, and finishes that hold up.
- Clear, written expectations about duration, cost, and friction points—before they turn into change orders.
- Predictable install day: sharpen details up front so the space reads as drawn.
Built For New York’s Rules, Boards, And Buildings
Coordination with supers, property managers, and boards (hours, COIs, permits, filings) so the schedule isn’t ambushed by paperwork.
Full office operation—project management, accounting, expediting—for crisp communication and accurate documentation.
Values Architects Can Feel On Site
Straight Talk — Plain language, clear scopes, written commitments.
Commitment to Performance — Skilled specialists, disciplined scheduling, clean documentation.
Everyone Wins — Issue-resolution that protects the design, the client experience, and trade coordination.
What ERH Provides Architects
Case Study — Lobby Renovation
Told by Al Rivera, ERH’s founder and working general contractor.
I love when designers push materials. This lobby called for the floor material to climb the walls and wrap a custom mailbox—crisp planes, clean edges, zero fuss. My job: keep that look intact and make it buildable under NYC building rules.
Before demo, I walked the designer through the detail chain: substrate and skim-coat to get a single reading plane; backing/fastening so a flooring product could live vertically; and, most importantly, corners and terminations. We decided exactly how outside edges would die, how returns would read, and how to avoid raw faces. We also solved the fussy stuff early—pre-fab trims or not, board layout to land clean at the mailbox cutout, and tiny dimension tweaks to dodge slivers. That protects the idea and the install.
Buildings have personalities. We followed the alteration agreement to the letter—hours, COIs, any required filings—so the schedule didn’t get ambushed. Once paperwork cleared, we staged, protected common areas, and sequenced trades to keep dust off finished surfaces. Near the end, I ran a couple of passes before the final punch so the last list was short and real.
What mattered most to the result:
- Wall prep until it read as one plane.
- Pre-approved corner/termination details—no guessing on install day.
- Mailbox integration supported with proper backing and clearances.
I kept a steady cadence: what’s done, what’s next, what we need. The space reads like it was drawn, the edges are clean, and the relationship grew stronger—that’s how craft protects design intent.
Why this project is a good example of ‘commercial performance, residential warmth’?
To me, that phrase means I’ll lay out the schedule and filings like a commercial job, and I’ll keep the conversation human so designers and clients feel supported, not steamrolled. That balance is what keeps our referrals strong.
If you’re an architect with a detail that ‘shouldn’t’ work, bring it. I’ll walk you through where the friction lives and how we can build it without losing the edge you love. Want me to sketch corner options or sample a termination on site for your next project? I’m in.
“I kept a steady cadence: what’s done, what’s next, what we need.“
— Al Rivera, CEO, ERH Contracting
Process You Can Plan Around
1
Discovery & Scope – Clarify vision, constraints, and building rules.
2
Preconstruction – Walk the set, review edge conditions, confirm substrates, and sequence trades.
3
Estimate & Schedule – Price with real labor and protection assumptions; issue a calendar you can rely on.
4
Compliance & Coordination – COIs, permits, filings, and building liaison handled.
5
Execution – Dust control, protection, and disciplined trade handoffs to keep finishes pristine.
6
Closeout – Multiple “bites at the apple” before the final punch so the last list is short and real.
Program Module: Preferred Partner Benefits For Architects
Built for New York City independent architects, design studios, and integrated architecture/design firms who want a tighter preconstruction loop, cleaner installs, and portfolio-ready outcomes on occupied, board-regulated, and high-compliance sites.
A referral qualifies when the referred client signs an ERH contract of at least $25,000 (before taxes and permits) and pays the project deposit.
What you get:
A flexible credit to reduce risk before install day.
- Eligible uses: on-site or shop mockups, sample builds of corners/terminations, substrate/adhesion tests, finish samples, small-area trials to verify read/flatness, and field adjustments that inform final detailing.
- How it’s applied: credited on the architects or client's ERH invoice for the associated project phase once the mockup/sample activity is completed.
- Scope & approvals: ERH and the architects align on the mockup objective, location, and acceptance criteria in writing (photos or a quick sketch are fine).
- Scheduling: coordinated during preconstruction or early execution so sequencing stays intact.
- Documentation: photos/notes captured and shared so decisions are clear to all trades.
- Note: Partners may choose one benefit per referred project: either a Mockups & Samples Credit or a Project Photography Package (not both).
- What’s included: a professional shoot at or near closeout (timing flexible based on furnishing/occupancy), basic editing, and a curated set of hero and detail shots.
- Coordination: ERH manages access, protection, and building requirements on shoot day to keep common areas pristine.
- Deliverables: shared gallery of finals suitable for web/print; file specs agreed in advance.
- Attribution & usage: you receive broad portfolio rights; ERH may also feature the project in case studies and social (crediting the design firm).
How it works:
- Apply — Click Join the Architects Preferred Referral Partner Program and complete the short form (firm info, project types, typical budgets/timelines).
- Onboarding call (15–20 min) — Confirm fit, align expectations, subscribe to the email newsletter and identify your next live opportunity.
- Activate on a project — Confirm mockup/sample scope and credit amount (up to $1,500 per project unless otherwise approved); pencil in photography timing and access plan.
- During the job — Your dedicated PM provides steady updates: what’s done, what’s next, what’s needed.
- Closeout — Mockup learnings are documented for the as-built set; photography is scheduled when the space is camera-ready.
Important Note
FAQ
Do you work in co-ops/condos with strict alteration agreements?
Can you advise on materials within a tight budget without diluting the look?
How do you protect finishes during construction?
What will I see from project management?
A dedicated PM provides steady updates in plain language: what’s done, what’s next, and what’s needed. Expect clear scopes, target dates, and quick responses so decisions don’t stall and you’re never chasing status.
Where do you work and what project types fit best?
How early should we involve ERH?
Bring us your next detail-rich project and we’ll meet you early. Constructability, budgeting, and value engineering are included for every client, with steady project management updates so you always know what’s done, what’s next, and what’s needed. Enroll to access the Architects Preferred Referral Partner Program extras, including an optional mockups & samples credit (up to $1,500) or a professional close-out photography package.